Machine for corking bottles.



No. 707,993. Patenfed Aug. 26, I902. C. J-. WARREN.

MACHINE FORCORKING BUTT LES (Application filed Dec. 7,1901.

(No Model.)

Patented Aug. 26, I902. C. J. WARREN.

momma FOR conkma BOTTLES.

(Application filed. Dec. 7, 1901.

6 Shan -Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

THE Nonms Pzrzns co. movoumo. WASHINGTON, u. c.

Patented Aug. 26, I902;

0. J. WARREN. MACHINE FOR COBKING BOfTLE'S.

(Application filed Dec. 7, 1901.)

6 Shaets.$heet 3.

(No I dodel.)

m: NORRIS nzns co. womuma. wAsumu'rou, n. a

No. 707,993. Patented Aug. 26, I902.

' 'c. JQWARREN. MACHINE FUR CORKING BUTTLES.

(Application filed Dec. 7, 1901.

(80 Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 4.

ms PEI'ERS 00., Puoiaumo. war-Imam". u. n.

No. 707,993. v Patented Aug. 26, I902.

' C. J. WARREN.

MACHINE FOR COBKING BGTTLES.

(Application filed Dec. 7, 1901,}

. 6 Sheets-Sheet 5.;

v (No Model.)

THE Nbams Pzrsns co. autumn-10., wAsnmaTnm 04 c.

Patented Aug. 26, I902. C. J. WARREN; MACHINE FOB CO RKING BOTTLES.

' (Application filed Dec. 7, 1901.) (N9 Model.) I 6 SheetsSheet 6.

w MHWEEW"WMERR:M

UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLINTON J. WV-ARREN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MACHINE Fo R CORKlNG BOTTLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part or Letters Patent No. 707,993, dated August 2 6,1902.

Original application filed May 16, 1901, Serial No. 60.524. Divided and this application filed December 7, 1901. Serial No. 85,002. (No model.)

To all, whom it nuty concern:

Be it known that I, CLINTON-J. WARREN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chi cago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful; Improvements in Machines for Oorking Bottles, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to machines for inserting corks in filled bottles and has for its object to provide means for inserting such corks while the bottles are being moved by an endless carrier, the corking devices being moved for a limited distance parallel with and over the moving carrier and in contact with one of the bottles thereon in which a cork is being inserted and after traveling in such engagement being withdrawn clear of thebottle into which a cork has been inserted and retracted in an opposite direction in order to be in .a position to engage and cork a succeeding bottle on such carrier. I,

accomplish this bythe meansshown in the drawings and hereinafter specifically described, and that which I claim as new will be set forth in the claims.

The corking devices forming the subjectmatter of this application are shown and described in my pending application, Serial No. 60,524, filed May 16, 1901, of which this is a division, in which said application is also shown various other sets of mechanism for. operating upon bottles both before and after they are corked, as hereinafter described, and all acting, as does the cor-king mechanism, while the bottles are' being continuously moved forward through the machine.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is a cross-section through the upper portion of the carrierframe upon which the corking devices are mounted, showing the cork-driving mechanism in elevation and the cork-holding socket in section. The cork-driving devices are representedin their raised position. Fig. 3 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2 with the parts in their lowered position. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section on line 4 4 of Fig. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section on line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a cross-section on line 6 6 of 3, showing in dotted lines the position of the cross-head and attached springs when raised. Fig. 7 is a detail, being a plan view of a section of the endless bottle-carrierand one of the bottle-clamps secured thereon, a portion of the frame for said endless carrier being shown in section; and Fig. 8 is a detail of a portion of the endless bottle-carrier and its frame and the sprocket-wheel that drives such carrier.

Referring to the drawings, in which corresponding parts are indicated by the same reference-numerals, 12 indicates one of a pair of suitable supporting-standards which may be arranged as shown, or a pair of such standards may, if deemed advisable, be located at each end of the machine. Upon these standards is located a framework consisting of two-pairs of longitudinal beams 13 14, 13 indicating the lower beam, and 14 the upper beam, the upper and lower beams being connected by curved end pieces 15. The upper beams and the lower beams and their connecting end pieces are separated sufficiently to provide a space for a moving carrier to be located between them, such space being clearly indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, where the upper pair of beams 14 are shown in section, and it will be understood that this same space that is shown in these two figures is continued so as to be the same at all points between the pair of lower beams and the pair of upper beams and 'their connecting ends. The carrier referred; to is an endless one and is composed of a number of comparatively heavy blocks 17, each block having ears 18 at its ends, through which pass axles 19, and upon the ends of which axles are journaled rollers 20, these rollers traveling in the grooves 16 in the inner faces of the beams'13 14 and l their curved end pieces 15. I

21 indicates a sprocket-wheel keyed to a shaft 22, mounted in suitable bearings that are secured between the longitudinal beams 13 14 near one of the curved ends 15 thereof. 23 indicates another shaft extending across the machine between the longitudinal beams referred to and suitably secured in bearings supported by the framework of the machine. Upon this shaft 23 at 'one end thereof is secured a pulley-wheel 24;, over which a driving-belt passes. The shaft 23 carries a small gear-wheel 26, which is keyed thereto and which meshes with another and larger gear-wheel 27, which latter gear-wheel is socured upon a projecting end of the shaft 22, whereby upon the rotation of such larger gear-wheel the sprocket-wheel 21 is driven and by its engagement with the axles 19 of the carrier-wheels 20 moves such carrier forward. At the opposite end of the machine from that at which the devices just referred to are located is arranged another and similar sprocket-wheel 28, over which the carrier travels, this sprocket-wheel 28 being located on a shaft 29, journaled in suitable supports secured to the framework.

lhe outer face of each block 17 is provided with a suitable clamp adapted to receive the base of a bottle and hold such bottle firmly in position, so that it will at all times have its neck end projected outward. The form of clamp shown consists of two similar curved metal bands 30, each portion 30 being bent on itself and at the bent portion secured to the blocks 17 by a screw or other pivot 31. The curvature of each portion of the clamp is such as to adapt it to conform to the curvatu re of the bottle that is to be held, and it is provided on its inner face, as shown, with two oppositely-arranged cushions 32, one of such cushions being provided for each portion 30. The acting portion of the clamp, as shown, forms nearly a complete circle, the two ends approaching closely to each other, as shown by the'dotted lines in Fig. 7, and working back and forth beneath a bracket 33 when pressure is applied to or released from the sides of the clamp. The outer ends of each portion of the clamp bear against the sides of the beams 14, as shown in Fig. 7, with sufiicient force to cause the cushions 32 to grasp the bottle firmly, so as to hold it securely whether the bottle be upright or inverted. Suitable means may be provided for automatically inserting the bottles within the clamps and disengaging them therefrom, so as to be discharged from the machine, and means for that purpose are shown and described in my said pending application; but as they form no part of my present invention and so far as my present invention is concerned may be of any suitable character I do not deem it necessary to here show or describe them. It is also to be understood that other forms of clamping devices for holding bottles securely upon the carrier may be employed. In the form of bottle-clamp shown the two portions 30 are adapted to he forced apart at the releasing-point by the action of acurved spring 34, which, as shown in Fig. 7, is secured at one end to one of the parts 30 and bears at its other and free end against the corresponding part 30.

With a series of bottles mounted and suitably held upon the endless carrier and such endless carrier, with the bottles thereon, being continuously driven at a comparatively slow rate of speed and with the bottles filled and ready to be corked the corking operation is accomplished by the means now to be described.

35 indicates two oppositelylocated supports adjustably secured to the outside faces of the two upper longitudinal beams 14, upon each of which supports is secured a sharplyinclined guideway 36, upon which travels a slide 37, having pivotally attached thereto a rod 38, which rod at its opposite end is secured to an eccentric 39 on the shaft 23.

40 indicates upwardly extending arms formed with or rigidly attached to the slides 37, to the tops of which arms is bolted a crosshead 41, having an enlarged central head 42, through which head passes a plunger 43, that is preferably screw-threaded into said head 42, so that by means of the screw-thread the plunger may be accurately adjusted with relation to the part with which it cooperates. This central head 42 and the plunger carried thereby are arranged directly over the longitudinalcenter of the bottle-carrier, which, as before described, is made up of the blocks 17, so that when the device is operated the plunger will be in direct line with the necks of the bottles clamped to and moving with said carrier. 44 indicates a second cross-head, that has its ends confined in vertical guide- Ways formed in the inner faces of the upwardly-extending arms 40, which guideways are indicated in Figs. 2 and 3 by dotted lines. Such second cross-head 44 is also provided with a central enlargement or head 45, in which is formed a socket 46 of a size adapted to receive a cork of the character employed for the bottles being operated upon. As shown in Fig. 8, this socket is open at one side, and through this side opening the corks are forced.

47 indicates two brackets, one of such brackets extending out from each support 35 about at the upper end of the guide 36 and being bent sufliciently to bring over the middle of the machine a longitudinally-extending tubular socket 48, which is supported on said brackets. 49 indicates a plunger movable within said socket, said plunger being provided with a rod 50, around which is a coiled spring 51, that tends to force the plunger outward. To the outer end of the plunger-rod 50 is pivoted a jointed or toggle lever 52, the joint being indicated by 53 and the pivotal point in the long member of the lever by 54, the pivoting of the lever being to an extension 55, formed with or secured to the upper part of the socket 48.

56 indicates a cord or other flexible connection secured to the long member of the lever 52 near its upper and free end and secured at its other end to a short rigid arm or hook 57, projecting from the cross-head 41.

58 indicates a hopper adapted to contain a supply of corks for the bottles, from the lower end of which hopper extends a tube 59, the open lower end of which communicates IIO with the interiorof the tubular socket 48, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. This tube is preferably slotted, as shown, in order that such slots may afford meansof determining whether the corks are properly feeding downward or are becoming clogged therein and if clogged may be straightened out by means of a Wire or rod inserted through the slots.

indicates short arms attached to the lower face of the cross-head 44, near opposite ends thereof, each of said arms carrying at itslower end a roller 61, that bears upon a track its upper end in any suitable manner to the cross-head 41, a pair-of such springs being located about midway between the enlarged central head 42 and one end of the cross-head. 1

Each pair of these springs has a tendency to bear against the lower cross-head 44, and at a point opposite the lower edge of said crosshead 44, when theother cross-head is lowered, as shown in'Fig. 3, the springs are each provided with a bend 64, forming shoulders that project under the lower face of the crosshead 44 when the other cross-head 41 is in its lowest position. 'By thus providing these shoulders in the springs, the cross-head'44 is firmly heldbetween them and raised for a short distance when the cross-head 41 is raised.

The operation of the machine is as follows:

With the bottle-carrier being continuously driven at a uniform rate of speed and with a series of bottles securely clamped thereon by the clamps shown or by any other suitable means and the bottles having been filled by= the filling mechanism shown in my said pending application'or' by some other means it is evident that the turning of the shaft 23, on

which the eccentric 39 is secured, will cause a reciprocation of the rod 38, attached thereto, and upon the backward movement of such rod the slide 37'on the guide 36-willmove upward on said guide and will of course, inview of-the guide 36 being inclined, move in the reverse direction to the travel of the bottles on the carrier. The upright arms 40 and attached cross-heads beingjconnected to thisslide will of course move with it, and at the completion of the upward movement theyare in the position shown in-Fig. 5. At'just about the time of-the completion of their upward movement the projection 5'7 on the cross head 41 will strike the free end of the long arm of the lever 52 with sufficient force to turn it on its pivot 54, causing it to bend at its joint 53, which willallow the coiled spring 51 to force the plunger 49 forward, forcing out from in front of it a cork which had previously dropped from the tube 59, causing such cork to enter the upper end of the socket 46, when it will immediatelysettle into the tapered lower portion of such socket. The action of the eccentric through the rod 38 then forces the slide 37 downward on its guide 36,and after it has traveled but a very short distance the rollers 61, carried by the arms 60, that are attached to the under face of the lower cross-head 44, descend the inclined portion of the oppositely-located tracks 62, which gives a quick downward motion to the'lower cross-head. I This action settles the central portion 45 of the cross-head 44 firmly down upon the head of a filled bottle, upon which it bears with considerable weight. The central portion of the under face of this crosshead 44' is concave around theco'rk-holdingsocket, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, and this aids insecuring the alinement of the corkholding socket withthe neck of the bottle. Further downward movement of the; crosshead 44 is prevented; but the upper cross-- head 41 continues'to descend, with the ends ofthe cross-head 44 sliding in-the grooves in the inner faces of the upright arms 40. The

continued downward movement of the crosshead 41 of course carriesthe plunger 43 with considerable force against the cork in the socket 46, forcing the cork through such socket into the neck of the-bottle. The crossheads move along with the movement of the bottle being corked, owing to the inclinedarrangement of the slide 37 and its guide 36. As the cross-head 41 moves downward and farther from the cork-delivering tube 59, which latter tube is stationary, the other flexible connection 56 is of course drawn taut andacts to pull back the lever 52 sufficiently to withdraw the plunger 49, which withdrawal allows another cork to drop from the tube 59 into the tubular socket and in front of said plunger. the lever 52-will lock the two parts of such lever until the lever isagain tripped by the projection 57, as-before explained. As. the slide 37 starts again on its upward movement on the guide 36 it is necessary that the lower cross-head 44 be instantly released from contact with the bottle just corked, and this is,

effected by means of the two pairs of broad flat springs 63, previously referred to; These springs are made quite strong and spring to- When drawn back, the joint 53 in ward each'other with considerable force. As

the slide starts upward it of course carries the upright arms 40 and the attached cross-head 41, to which latter cross-head the springs are attached at their upper ends, their lower ends being free and bent in toward each other. These springs having the decided bends 64in them, which bends at this time are immediately under the lower edges of the cross-head 44, enable said cross-heads 44 to be'immediately lifted by the springs, so as not to interfere with the forward movement of the nowcorked bottle, and such springs willso support the cross-head until the rollers 61 strike the incline of the track 62 and ascend such incline. The rollers will then come in contact with strips 65, which, as shown, project over the track 62, and the contact of the rollers with such strips will prevent the cross head A from rising further, and as the other cross-head 41 continues to rise the springs 63 will of course be drawn up with them and as they are drawn up will be forced outward, so that the bent portions or shoulders 6* can pass the lower cross-head.

In Fig. 1 I have shown the eccentric-rod 38 as being divided into two parts which are joined together by a vertical arm, (see Fig. 1,) to the upper end of which arm the forward portion of the rod 38 is pivoted. I have so shown it to make the drawing correspond more nearly with the construction shown in my said pending application; butit is evident, of course, that a single continuous eccentric-rod may be employed.

By my invention I provide an accuratelyworking set of devices by which corks can be quickly and accurately driven into the necks of filled bottles while said bottles are being continuously moved, which method of corking bottles is one of especially great value when used in connection with other devices or sets of devices mounted upon the same frame, as shown and described in my said pending application, where said other devices or sets of devices also act to operate both before and after the corking operation upon the same bottles while they are being moved through the machine.

That whichIclaim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a bottle-corking machine, the combination with a movable carrier adapted to receive and hold a series of bottles with their neck ends projected, of means for continuously moving said carrier, cork-inserting devices adapted to insert corks in successive bottles of said moving series, means for causing said inserting devices to move for a limited distance alongside of the moving series of bottles, and means for retracting said inserting devices in an opposite direction from that of the movement of the carrier, substantially as specified.

2. In a bottle-corking machine, the combination with a movable carrier adapted to receive and hold a series of bottles with their neck ends projected, of means for continuously moving said carrier, cork-inserting devices adapted to insert corks in successive bottles of said moving series, means for causing said inserting devices to move for a limited distance alongside of the moving series of bottles, means for retracting said inserting devices in an opposite direction to that of the movement of the carrier, and means for advancing a cork in position to be acted upon by said inserting devices after each retracting movement, substantially as specified.

3. The combination with a carrier adapted to receive and hold a bottle thereon with the neck end projected, of means for continuously moving the carrier, a cork-carrying device, means for moving said cork-carrying device a limited distance alongside of the bottle and returning it to its normal position, and means for forcing a cork from said corkcarrying device into the neck of the moving bottle.

4. The combination with a carrier adapted to receive and hold a bottle thereon with its neck end projected, of means for moving the carrier, a cork-carrying device, means for giving said cork-carrying device a reciprocating motion over and in the line of travel of the bottle, and at the same time a descending and ascending movement to bring said corkcarrying device into contact with the top of the bottle and to retract it therefrom, and means for forcing a cork from said cork-carrying device into the bottle while in contact therewith and while said bottle is being moved with its carrier, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a frame, a carrier supported thereby and adapted to receive and hold a bottle with its neck end projected, means for moving the carrier, a cross-head suitably supported above said frame, a plunger carried thereby, and a second cross-head movable verticallyin the supports of the firstnamed cross-head and provided with means for holding a cork, of means for forcing the cross-head carrying the cork down upon the top of the moving bottle, means for forcing down the other cross-head to bring the plunger carried thereby into contact with the cork in the cork-carrying cross-head and thereby force such cork into the neck of the moving bottle, and means for withdrawing said devices after the cork has been forced into the bottle, substantially as specified.

6. The combination with a frame, a carrier supported thereby and adapted to receive and hold a bottle with its neck end projected, means for moving the carrier, a cross-head suitably supported above said frame, a plunger carried thereby, and a second cross-head movable verticallyin the supports of the firstnamed cross-head and provided with means for holding a cork, of means for forcing the cross-head carrying the cork down upon the top of the moving bottle, means for forcing down the other cross-head to bring the plunger carried thereby into contact with the cork in the cork-carrying cross-head and thereby force such cork into the neck of the moving bottle, means for withdrawing said devices after the cork has been forced into the bottle, and means for automatically supplying said cork-carrying cross-head with another cork after such withdrawal, substantially as specified.

7. The combination with a carrier adapted to receive and hold a bottle thereon with its neck end projected, of means for moving the carrier, a cork -carrying device, means for giving said cork-carrying device a reciprocating motion over and in the line of travel of the bottle and a descending and ascending movement to bring said cork-carrying device into contact with the top of the bottle and to retract it therefrom, means for forcing a cork from said cork-carrying device into the bottle while in contact therewith and while said bottle is being moved with its carrier, a receptacle for containing a quantity of corks, and means for feeding from such receptacle a single cork to the cork-carryin g device each time that said cork-carrying device is drawn to the limit of its backward and upward motion, substantially as specified.

8. The combination with a carrier adapted to receive and hold a bottle thereon with its neck end projected, of means for moving the carrier, a cork-ca rrying device,means for giving said cork-carrying device a reciprocating motion over and in the'line of travel of the bottle and a descending and ascending movement to bring said cork-carrying device into contact with the top of the bottle and to retract it therefrom, means for forcing a cork from saidcork-carrying device into the bottle while in contact therewith and while said bottle is being moved with its carrier, a receptacle for containinga quantity of corks,means for feeding from said receptacle a single cork to the movable cork carrying device each time that said cork-carrying device is brought to the limit of its upward and rearward movement, and means carried by said movable cork-carrying device forsetting in'operation the means for forcing a cork from the receptacle containing a supply of corks into the movable cork-carrier, substantially as specified.

9. The combination with a carrier adapted to receive and hold a bottle'thereon with its neck end projected, of means for moving the carrier, at cork-carrying device, means for giving saidcork-carrying device a reciprocating motion over and in the line of travel of the bottle and a descending and ascending movement to bring said cork-carrying device into contact with the top of the bottle and to retract it therefrom, means for forcing a cork from said cork-carrying device into the bottle while in contact therewith and while said bottle is being moved with its carrier, a receptacle for containing a quantity of corks, means for feeding from said receptacle a single cork to the movable cork-carryingdevice each time that said cork-carrying device is brought to the limit of its backward and rearward movement, means connected with said movable cork-carrying device for setting in operation the means for forcing a cork from the said receptacle into the movable corkcarrier, and a connection between said movable cork-carrier and the means for supplying corks from the receptacle whereby upon the downward and forward movement of the cork-carrier a single cork will be dropped into position and the parts for ejecting corks locked until the next upward and rearward movement of the cork-carrier has been effected, substantially as specified.

10. The combination with a carrier adapted to receive and hold a bottle thereon with its neck end projected, of means for moving the carrier, a cork-carrying device, means for giving said cork-carrying device a reciprocating motion over and in the line of travel of the bottle, and at the same time a descending and ascending movement to bring said cork-carrying device over and in line with the top of the bottle and to retract it therefrom, a stationary receptacle for containing a supply of corks, a tube connected with said receptacle at its upper end and at its lower end with a chamber, a plunger within said chamber adapted to be drawn back to permit a cork from said tube to. be dropped in front of said plunger, aconnection between said corkcarrier and said plunger wherebysaid plunger is retracted as the cork-carrier moves away from it, means connected with said cork-carrier fonreleasing said plunger from its retracted position when said cork-carrier is at its upper and rearward position, and means for forcing said plunger forward to move the cork in front of it into said corkcarrier, substantially as specified.

CLINTON J. WARREN.

Witnesses:

HELEN M. COLLIN, ALVY L. ROMME. 

